black_dodo_b

The plot is quite generic but the script has this technically very intruiging concept of a puppet master controlling the "hero" with body cameras. Based on this, the director tried to fully embrace this by intersplicing first-person shots/body cam shots/shots of the control room, etc.

So I have to give props to the director/editor here for daring something new and very ambitious.

But sadly it didn't work out at all. What is left is a jumbled mess of shots drenched in a hazy dream-like filter/editing style which leaves you dettached and bored.

This movie is not worth your time, except as a case study of how not to do it.

PS: It would be interesting though to see how other directors would have approached this idea.

The whole movie is based on an intruiging premise, enriched with some decent laughs (if you can find humor in cynicism) and an good ensemble of actors. What keeps the movie from getting boring is the not-quite-right setting/world that serves as a thematic thread.

There are for sure some questionable directional choices and the script could have used a bit more polish, but the movie keeps you intruiged and it doesn't overstay its welcome. So I was entertained throughout the whole thing.

At its core, this is a competently made romantic comedy that hits all the expected notes: a sweet lead couple, a cast of nutty but likeable family members and a lot of fun.

What elevates it above the expected is the setting (isreali, german, and some arab culture clash) and the surprisingly earnest handling of this delicate intercultural dynamic. It handles it cleverly without ever losing sight of its rom-com core.